Asparagus cochinensis / TIAN MEN DONG / Chinese Asparagus Root

Botanical Name – Asparagus cochinensis

Chinese Name – TIAN MEN DONG

English Name – Chinese Asparagus Root

Asparagus cochinensis, commonly called Asparagus, is a member of the Asparagacaea family. A climbing evergreen, perennial plant, Asparagus produces stems that can grow up to 2 metres in length from a tuberous root. The plant is often gathered from the wild for the use in traditional medicine and sometimes the roots are used locally for food.

Mainly found in Japan, it also grows throughout East Asia, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines. The plants grow mostly on slopes from sea level – 1700 metres and by roadsides and waste fields. Flowering in the months of May and June, the root is harvested when the plant is dormant and is dried for later use

This species has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years.